Research published in the Journal of Arthroplasty examined and compared the safety and outcomes of outpatient and inpatient joint arthroplasty at an ASC and a hospital.
Researchers examined a single surgeon cohort of 243 outpatients and 243 inpatients who had undergone the same procedure, which included 178 unicondylar knees, 146 total hips, 92 total knees and 70 hip resurfacings. Researchers measured 90-day outcomes.
Here are the key details to know:
1. The inpatient and outpatient groups had readmission rates of 2.1 percent.
2. There wasn't a significant difference in rates of major and minor complications, reoperations, emergency department visits or unplanned clinic visits between the two groups.
3. "This study suggests that arthroplasty procedures can be performed safely in an ASC among appropriately selected patients without an increased risk of complications," researchers concluded.